New Test For Concussion Severity

Trending News: This New Blood Test For Concussions Might Have A Huge Impact On Pro Sports

Why Is This Important?

Because this could change the way we view and deal with concussions.

Long Story Short

A new study has found a way to determine the severity of a concussion by testing protein levels in blood.

Long Story

New research from Penn Medicine, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, has found that "elevated levels in the blood of the brain-enriched protein calpain-cleaved αII-spectrin N-terminal fragment, known as SNTF, shortly after sports-related concussion can predict the severity of post-concussion symptoms in professional athletes."

Science Daily reports that this research builds on former research that showed elevated blood level of SNTF could in concussion patients could predict patients who would later suffer "diffuse axonal injury and long-term cognitive dysfunction" as a result of concussion. According to Wikipedia, diffuse axonal injury is "one of the most common and most devastating forms of brain injury and is a major cause of unconsciousness and persistent vegetative state after brain trauma."

The study involved 288 players from the Swedish professional hockey league. The researches administered regular blood draws from 28 players who had suffered a concussion during the first half of the 2012-2013 season. Out of the 28, eight players exhibited no symptoms after their injury. However, 20 of the players "had persistent post-concussion symptoms requiring they be withheld from play six days or longer."

During the blood tests, the researchers found "an increase in the blood SNTF concentration from one hour up to 144 hours post-concussion" in these 20 players who experienced persistant post-concussion symptoms.

The lead researchers in the study wrote that "these observations lend further support to the growing awareness that concussion is not trivial, since it can induce permanent brain damage in some individuals."

These findings are particularly relevant to the ongoing discussion about fighting in the NHL. Last year, a class action suit was filed against the league by former players who had suffered concussions. In the past 10 years, the NHL has seen a sizeable decrease in fighting on ice and, this past year, several teams have even opted to get rid of their enforcers.

Research like this is likely to only further the argument against fighting in the NHL.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question: Will this research put an end to fighting in the NHL once and for all?

Disrupt Your Feed: Although fighting in hockey may be a long-standing tradition, too many players are suffering from the consequences.

Drop This Fact: Since the 2003-2004 season, fights in the NHL have been trending downwards.